Minimalist Sandals Mens: Wait Till You See These

Are you looking for the best minimalist sandals for men? When it comes to shoe shopping it may seem like a pretty straightforward exercise, but it can easily become a dreaded chore.

This is especially true when you are looking for a shoe to fit specific needs. With the number of shoes that are available today, it is easy to get confused or to wind up buying something you do not need, but that tickles your fancy. 

  1. Are you looking for a man’s sandal to suit your minimalist needs?
  2. Perhaps you have had a foot injury, and you are looking for a good-looking sandal to wear every day.
  3. Or maybe you are looking for a great father’s day gift, and you have just about bought all the ties in town. 

Minimalist Sandals Mens

Photo Name What We like
Teva Men's Original Universal Urban Sandal These shoes are lightweight. They are comfortable. They are made for durability.
Teva Men's Original Universal Sandal There are 17 colours and designs to choose from. They provide good value for money. The quality is impressive.
Xero Shoes Z-Trek They are incredibly lightweight. They are comfortable. They come in three colour options.
Luna Sandals Leadville Pacer They can take on the trails. The soles provide great traction. The design is minimalist.
Vivobarefoot San-Dal Mens They are lightweight. The straps are more comfortable than most others. They have a minimalist sole.

Men’s sandals come in a variety of designs. They are a welcome relief for a lot of men, whose feet tend to spend a lot of time cooked up in socks and formal shoes.

Over time this can have a lasting effect on your feet, like bunions, which can be very painful. It helps to let your feet breathe for a bit. Minimalist sandals are the perfect way to do this.

They allow the barefoot natural movement of the foot, which quite frankly, all feet deserve.

In this article, we look at the best minimalist sandals for men and what you need to look for in a good pair. Some manufacturers can pull the wool over your eyes if you do not know what you should be looking for. Some features can make men’s sandals as minimalistic as possible, whilst others defeat the entire purpose. Give your feet the freedom they yearn for. As a man, you do not always have to be in closed shoes that restrict your toes and feet. There are great sandals that you can choose from. 

In a Hurry

Do you need a quick guide to buying the best minimalist sandals for men? There are a few factors that you will need to take into consideration. Firstly, like with most shoes, make sure to check on the fit and size of the sandal.

Your heel should not be overlapping and the sandals should also be wide enough for your foot. Check on the sole of the shoe as well, and ensure that it is minimalist. 

You want as little material between the ground and your feet. You also want to check on how the shoe fastens. A sandal needs a good way of fastening. This will add to the comfort of the shoe as a whole.

You want to make sure that the shoes are breathable as well. This is the mark of a good sandal. They should be lightweight and flexible too. You also want to make sure that the sandal is made of durable material and that it is versatile.

Our Top Pick

Teva Men's Original Universal Urban Sandal

We have done our research and found our favorite to be the Teva Men’s Original Universal Urban Sandal. This sandal is the epitome of minimalist sandals for men.  It is made of 100 % textile. It has a synthetic sole and the heel is quite close to the ground, measuring a mere 0.75 inches. The platform measures 0.5 inches.

It is a versatile sandal with a strapper upper. It has several hook and loop adjustment points. If you are worried about foot odor, these sandals have that department sorted for you. They have microban zinc-based odor-resistant treatment that will help deal with this. This sandal also comes with a cushioned footbed and it also has a durabrassion rubber outsole which helps provide great traction. 

Product Reviews for Minimalist Sandals Mens

Teva Men’s Original Universal Urban Sandal 

Teva Men's Original Universal Urban Sandal

Sandals are not what they used to be a few decades ago when I was growing up. These are the sole sandals that most of us would have been accustomed to.

It is an old true and tried a design that has survived the test of time. They are made out of 100% textile material.

The soles of these shoes are synthetic. As such you are bound to have less durability than you would have with rubber soles. They sit on a platform off just half an inch.

That is a reasonable amount of underfoot protection, as well as enough synthetic sole too, take on rough surfaces.

As you’d expect from sandals the strap makes them quite versatile. These particular ones have multiple hooks and loop adjustment straps. This provides you with a lot of room to adjust you send those to just the right fit.

Seeing as you would be open to all sorts of elements, you’d be pleased to find that these sandals have a zinc-based order treatment. 

The EVA footbed on these sandals is cushioned. The outsoles have the durabrasion rubber to provide you with additional traction as well as a little bit of added durability.

The straps that we mentioned are made out of water ready polyester. This means that they are quick to dry in the event that you wash them or walk through wet conditions.

These sandals are highly regarded amongst their users who are largely giving them great reviews. 

Pros

  • These shoes are lightweight.
  • They are comfortable.
  • They are made for durability.
  • There is room for socks.
  • The soles can take on all sorts of terrain.
  • There is reasonable underfoot cushioning.

Cons

  • The placement of the hard plastic triangle is less than ideal.
  • The strap is somewhat stiff.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Teva Men’s Original Universal Sandal 

Teva Men's Original Universal Sandal

If you like the initial design from this brand but would prefer to have less material, then these could be the right ones for you. They’re made out of 100% fabric.

The soles of these sandals are made out of rubber. As you can imagine this means that you get a good amount of traction as well as durability.

The shaft of these sandals measures 4 inches from your arches. There is a little bit of elevation on the heels which is 3/4 of an inch.  

As with other designs from this brand these ones provide you with a lot of room for adjustment. They have a triple hook and loop strapping system. To provide you with a little bit of additional cushioning the EVA footbed is cushioned as well.

The soles are reasonably minimal keeping the weight of the sandals quite light. The strapping system that is used only design is the same one that this brand is known for. In essence, you’re getting a tried and true universal strapping system. 

This is a strapping system that has 2 Velcro watch bands. To provide versatility they are 17 colours and designs that you can choose yours from.

These range from the more mundane and subtle colours such as black and grey. All the way to the bright and colourful options. The one that you go with will largely depend on what sort of occasions you look into where the sandals are.

This also gives you the option to pick a colour that goes on various occasions.

Pros

  • There are 17 colours and designs to choose from.
  • They provide good value for money.
  • The quality is impressive.
  • They are very comfortable.
  • The soles have a 60 000 mile warranty.
  • They are lightweight.

Cons

  • Sizing can be off.
  • Quality control could be better.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Xero Shoes Z-Trek

Xero Shoes Z-Trek

We simply cannot have a discussion about minimalist shoes without talking about these ones. The approach that the manufacturers have taken is that of creating a sandal that is quite minimalist as our the hook and straps over the Top. As the photo probably tells you these shoes are lightweight.

What you may not be able to tell is that they are very comfortable. The design is performance-focused. This is enhanced by the use of soles that are made of rubber.

These sandals embody everything that we have come to love about this brand. They are sports sandals, which is in line with the idea of the performance that we mentioned. 

As for sandals, you can use them for all sorts of activities. They are open this also makes them versatile enough to be used in water activities as well as dry activities.

They will make the perfect companion for ultra sporting events such as a marathon.

According to the manufacturer, these sandals are 70% lighter than other sports sandals.

It’s hard to not believe them seeing as the soles are only 5 1/2 inches thick. This thickness also makes them quite ideal for packing away when travelling. 

There are 3 main colours that you can choose your sandals from. These are coal-black soles with red webbing, mocha earth soles with a coffee bean webbing, slate soles with multi Sky webbing. You will also be pleased to find that these shoes are 100% vegan-friendly.

Pros

  • They are incredibly lightweight.
  • They are comfortable.
  • They come in three colour options.
  • They are water-resistant.
  • They come with a 5000-mile warranty.
  • The soles are quite minimalist.
  • The design is well thought out.

Cons

  • The upper part could be more durable.
  • Sizes can be difficult to get right.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Luna Sandals Leadville Pacer

Luna Sandals Leadville Pacer

It perhaps you would prefer soles lost slightly is thicker than the 5MM ones that Xero make. The Leadville Pacer from Luna sandals is an ideal solution.

They come at a reasonably lightweight with a thicker heel of 9MM. Leeds are sandals that are designed to take on tough terrains such as the trail and similar surfaces.

Allow the soles are strong enough to give you underfoot protection and they are also fairly lightweight. The made out of Vibram. There was a clear attempt to strike a balance between comfort bend performance in making these sandals.

In line with being minimalist sandals, they have one continuous strap that is made out of climbing grid webbing. You’ll be happy to know that um adjustment back holes are incredibly easy to work with.

To give you the perfect tread these sandals are Made with an incredibly durable also that features Luna is very own monkey grip technology.

There is also an attempt to create a balance between sandals that could be worn on a day to day and highly performing sandals.

These sandals are made in the USA. In fact, they are made in Seattle WA. The soles we briefly mentioned also made to be stable and provide you with a non-slip footbed that is not commonly found in athletic sandals.

This is a footbed that keeps your foot from sliding within the sandal and sandal from sliding on whatever surface you’re treading on. The brand itself is famous for being the brainchild of Barefoot Ted.

Pros

  • They can take on the trails.
  • The soles provide great traction.
  • The design is minimalist.
  • The straps provide great support.
  • They are lightweight.

Cons

  • You may need to order a size up.
  • The soles are not always durable.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Vivobarefoot San-Dal Mens

The design of these sandals is fairly unconventional when viewed through the lenses of modern-day fashion.

This is a design that is perhaps more commonly seen in the women’s market. What you may not realise is this is a design that takes us back to the roots of mankind.

It is a design that has been recreated based on the hunting or running sandals of the Ju’hoansi people In Namibia, Southern Africa.

What is perhaps more impressive is not only have the manufacturers taken inspiration from this ancient design, they’ve also engaged the services of cobblers from the region.

The soles of these sandals are made out of locally sourced and tanned eland and skin. The other part is made out of Springbok.

There are two key facets of this design. The first one is to ensure that you have a lightweight sandal that performs fairly well outdoors.

The second part is, of course, to provide you with sandals that are very comfortable. To achieve the second part they have used a strapping method that differentiates them from more sandals on the market.

You also are pleased to find that these sandals are hand stitched. This is usually a great sign of quality control.

The design is incredibly minimalist on both the soles as well as the straps themselves. They have used just about enough material to do the job without overdoing it.

Pros

  • They are lightweight.
  • The straps are more comfortable than most others.
  • They have a minimalist sole.
  • The design is historically tried and true.
  • They come with a removable feather accessory.
  • There is a 100 day trial period available.

Cons

  • Durability of the soles is still to be determined.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Buyer’s Guide

How do I clean the insoles of my sandals?

Wearing open shoes such as sandals means that you have a considerable amount of dirt and dust that accumulates on the footbed and this means that you will need to have a way to clean them.

If your footbed is made of rubber, then you can just toss the shoes in with the rest of your laundry and wash them with soap and water.

If you prefer hand washing them, then you can use a brush with hard bristles and soapy water.

However before you toss them in with anything else, make sure that you have removed the loose dirt on the shoes. This is especially true if you will be using a washing machine. 

If you have a Birkenstocks footbed, make it a habit to wipe them down often to remove any accumulated dirt.

When they become quite dirty, then you can use a paste of soda and water, rub it onto the sole and leave it soaking overnight. Rinse it off in the morning and air-dry the sandals. 

Can I run in sandals?

Before Christopher McDougall’s bestseller “Born to Run,” running in sandals was not as big a deal. Now there is more information about it and more people understand what it entails.

The shoes you wear when you go running depend on the terrain you will run on. If you can allow your toes and feet to breathe more, then the better you will enjoy your run more.

You can run sandals if you are prepared to pay a little more attention to the trail. This is because your feet will not have the amount of protection they would normally have if they were in a closed pair of shoes.

The advantage of running in sandals is that they encourage your foot muscles to form properly. Make sure that the sandals you choose to run in are made for the trail.

This will mean that they have the right type of sole and traction. 

What are nordic walking shoes?

Nordic walking shoes are shoes that are flexible enough to keep you moving as you walk using a pole to either strengthen your muscles and heart or for general fitness.

You will need to make sure that the soles have great grip as you navigate different terrain. There are different levels of Nordic walking and they each have different types of shoes necessary for you to enjoy your walk.

Nordic walking shoes are shoes that offer you the features you need for this exercise.

Conclusion

Men’s fashion may not be as broad as women’s fashion, but it has specifics to cater to the various tastes of different people. Men’s sandals will offer you the freedom your feet need.

They are breathable and they have a sense of mimicking being close to the ground as possible.

This helps your feet muscles strengthen. We hope that the top brands we have reviewed help you find your perfect fit. Happy shopping!

Hi there. This is Clare. Dave and I manage this site. We are outdoor enthusiasts. Most of the content is about products that we love using or have researched.
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